Just in case you missed it, recently we announced that you can flash a new firmware to your Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 to turn it into a Z-Wave repeater. This lets you use them as Z-Wave devices to help plug any signal gaps in your mesh network (just note you can't repeat Z-Wave Long Range, but this repeater firmware covers classic Z-Wave). As we’ve optimized the antenna and made it look great in the home, we think it’s the best repeater out there… plus you can control the RGB light at the top .
The basic setup just requires flashing the new repeater firmware on the toolbox website, plugging it into a spare USB power adapter, and getting it paired with your network. This is different than our Portable Z-Wave firmware, which runs your ZWA-2 as a controller anywhere in your home.
I tried it, loading the repeater firmware and include the zwa-2 repeater into my zwave network (also with a zwa-2 as controller) went flawlessly, thanks to the good description how to setup.
But ….. after two days, none of my (far off) devices was using the zwa-2 repeater. Also, when I tried to force a route through this repeater, the route failed.
So … waiting for the next firmware release. I would be happy to test, having the second zwa-2 now laying idle.
BTW: using the ZWA-2 config tool gave me problems with reinstalling the original firmware, see my remarks (and solution) on discord:
Are there specific use cases where this will be known to help, and if so how to determine?
I had a powered zwave relay out in my yard that often wasn't working with a very weak RSSI and close to the noise floor (small SNR). I bought a regular old zwave extender and plugged it into and outside outlet near the relay. Rebuilding routes never got the relay to use the extender. Seems like the z-wave route building always picked a fewer or same hop count to other powered devices.
If I understand correctly there's nothing in the z-wave protocol that considers signal strenth when building routes. Anyone know otherwise?
I suppose where this might help is, say, a separate garage or building where a regular device is always out of range. But, in that case I'd personally run via ethernet a separate controller out in that location.
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